Camp Concordia has a lot of new families taking advantage of our unique setting for their children's summer camp experiences. So we thought we would post our 2017 Annual Report in order for each of you to check out how we function, how we spend, and if we have integrity.

2018 is turning out to be a year much like 2017. Camp Concordia has see growth, has had an exceptional staff and has been able to operate in a fiscally responsible way.

As with all growth there is growing pains. We had enough staff to operate in 2017 and in 2018, but we really needed more. We are constantly reaching out to churches and colleges to help us get students to look toward Camp Concordia as an essential growth and service experience.

Please pray for Camp Concordia's ministry with children, youth and families so that we will continue to focus on the essentials and urgencies of Michigan families and congregations. Thank you for your support.

In 2008, Search Institute, a forerunner in understanding and researching the faith development of youth, produced a document titled "With Their Own Voices: A Global Exploration of How Today's Young People Experience and Think About Spiritual Development." In Finding #9, the researchers asked: "How much does each of the following make it easier or harder for you to find meaning, peace and joy?" The answers might surprise you.

"...at least three-fourths [75%] of young people in the survey pointed to being outside in nature, listening to music, serving others, and being alone as being experiences that make it easier for them to be spiritual..." The actual wording the youth were able to respond to was:

Spending time outside or in nature

Listening to or playing music

Spending time helping other people or the community

Being alone in a quiet place (a.k.a. solo)

These top answers ARE camp. This IS who we are. And Christian camps have been providing this for a century. When you send your young people to camp you give them the opportunity to develop spiritually. But are all camps created equal? Do all camps allow spaces for contemplation? Do they create SAFE places of conversation?

More than 65% also responded that the influence of parents, then friends and other family members also make it "somewhat easier" for them to find meaning, joy and peace. So how does your camp help to create environments that enhance the relationships in these areas? If we relate this specifically to the Christian faith, a young person being committed to trusting & following Jesus, is it rather critical that families make use of camps and/or the camping environment where community can take place?

It looks like camp can become a family's greatest ally in supporting their efforts to instill faith & spirituality in their children.

Group enrollment is an opportunity for groups of students to enhance their bonding and have a more "hands on" sense of a shared faith community.

Group enrollment sends students back to school TOGETHER. Having had a shard experience, they are more likely to grow up in supportive relationships with each other. This is beneficial for church youth groups, classroom groups and family groups.

In 2017 Camp Concordia was surprised by the number of enrollments which came in in December and January. well gang, we are ahead of 2017 at this point. While we have worked to open up additional beds, we definitely see a tend already. Enrollment 2018 is underway!

I just got off the phone with a climbing tower company. Pray that we can use the Camp Concordia resources wisely and that if God would like this as an activity to advance our kids' faiths, then He can make this happen for 2018. Or at least something as cool!!

Campfire Christmas!Imagine, the first Christmas - for many people of the day - was probably spent around a campfire. And oh, were they blessed. The campfire is ALWAYS a place to receive GOOD NEWS! It is a place of good memories. Some memories may be roasting a marshmallow. Drinking a cup of hot cocoa. The best memories should be those of someone sharing their story of faith, the good news of Jesus in their life. That's a Campfire Christmas. A place of blessing.

Camp Concordia is currently working to recruit summer ministry staff for 2018 summer camps. These are full summer seasonal paid positions that require applications, background checks, interviews and references for individuals who have completed the equivalent of one year of college. See the possibilities here.